WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP >> Fourteen years after unspeakable horror struck the United States, officials put the finishing touches on a memorial in Red Run Park put for those lost on Sept. 11, 2001 — and it all started with a piece of steel.

According to Township Manager Mike Christopher, Stephen Kulla heard about the opportunity to acquire artifacts that came from the towers in New York City. That's when a committee came together to see what could be done to honor the memory of those lost. The committee missed the deadline to procure a historical artifact, but with the help of Congressman Bill Shuster, the committee was able to obtain an H-beam from one of the towers.

Once they had the beam, a woman named Ann Backer had the idea to acquire artifacts from all three locations. A piece of limestone from the Pentagon and a rock from the crash site in Shanksville, PA were also located.

After all those items had been gathered, there had to be a place to house them for the public to view them and pay their last respects. Backer convinced her husband Bob to construct a place that would house the artifacts. What was constructed was a pentagon-shaped open-air monument with a pedestal for the artifacts to rest on with plaques detailing what the objects were, where they came from and how their original locations played a role in the 9/11 attacks. The structure and artifacts were dedicated on September 11, 2013.

Bob Backer said that was all part of Phase 1. The second phase involved the final touches on the project, which was the construction of a five-foot tall model of both towers. The towers were revealed and dedicated on Friday morning.

Backer described the structure as a "ring setting." The artifacts and the structure were the ring and "Now we have the crown jewels," Backer said of the towers.

Christopher said he believes that this is the only monument to have an artifact from all three tragedy locations. The monument is a place where people can come remember, reflect, and for some, learn about the historical significance of the relics that is found there.

Bernie and Lou McGarity were on-hand for the dedication ceremony.

Both Bernie and township supervisor William Conrad remarked that they have seen people at the memorial at all hours of the day, whether it be morning, afternoon, or evening.

It's a crowning event that just puts it all together. It means a lot to me," Lou McGarity said.